(Newser)
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Team Romney probably hoped the Etch a Sketch gaffe—a top adviser said his positions could be "reset" as with the classic toy—would die a quick death today. Doesn't look like it:

Stage prop: Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich each went on stage brandishing a you-know-what. Gingrich handed one to a kid in the front row, saying, "Now you can be a presidential candidate," notes NPR. One of Santorum's lines, as per Politico: "Imagine had Mitt Romney been around at the time we were drafting our constitution. He would just shake it ... after it was approved to rewrite it."

Etch a Sketch responds: In an email to Vanity Fair, the company cheekily said it's thrilled that the iconic toy is "DRAWING attention with political candidates" and "SHAKING up the national debate."

Ed Morrissey, Hot Air: "I think the “Etch-a-Sketch” line will make it easier for Santorum to stay in, too."

Huffington Post: The top image on its site is, of course, an image of Romney in an Etch a Sketch. See more related photos at BuzzFeed.

Oh Republicans... only a beaten, quivering mass will remain to face Obama.

RedinDenver

Mar 22, 2012 9:26 AM CDT

Chuck Todd had a segment on The Daily Rundown today on the media's continual focus on these small gaffes within the Romney campaign. FIRST of all, he pointed out that ALL candidates - Democrat and Republican - play to their base during primaries; then have to shift more towards the center in the general election. It's just a fact of life in politics, and anyone paying attention knows that. It must be a shocker to people who don't really follow politics to find this out. He then asked the question why there was not such intense focus on these non-stories for either Obama, Hillary, or even Bush, for that matter. He speculated it is because Romney has no 'base' willing to step up and defend him. I find that odd, since, in the primary contests, he is, so far, winning the majority of the popular votes.

shaboom

Mar 22, 2012 8:59 AM CDT

Biden is expected to write a Thank You note to Romney this week; expressing gratitude for Romney surpassing Biden's own previous highmark for stupidity.